April 6, 2012

I know Wisconsin is so last Tuesday for a lot of you, but seriously, the effort to recall Gov. Scott Walker is a lot more significant than the next step in the Romney nomination process, so please don't stop thinking about Wisconsin. The recall primary is one month away and suddenly, Scott Walker is not the enemy, and there's a Democrat-on-Democrat fight between former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk — who declared her candidacy back in January — and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett — who just announced:

"You had your chance," [Madison attorney Linda Balisle] wrote Barrett Friday, just about 30 minutes after the Milwaukee mayor and 2010 gubernatorial candidate ended months of speculation by announcing he would run for governor. "We all gave you money. You lost. Now after Kathleen [Falk] has done all the work, a Chicago boss steps in and another Wisconsin woman is dissed."

Balisle, a longtime supporter who first met Falk when the two were students at UW Law School, says in a phone interview that she is disappointed that "after 35 years of [Falk's] boots-on-the-ground-work that has had a real effect on people's lives in Wisconsin, that [Barrett] would feel she's not good enough."

The "boss" she refers to is Chicago mayor and former Obama aide Rahm Emanuel, who recently attended a fundraiser for Barrett in Milwaukee.

Rahm Emanuel teams up with Barrett to push out the woman?! Remember the accusations about Rahm in relation to women working in the White House? (Ron Suskind's book "Confidence Men" said that "women occupied many of the West Wing’s senior positions, but felt outgunned and outmaneuvered by male colleagues such as former Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and [Larry] Summers.")

Balisle says Falk has been traveling the state since the time of the Capitol protests against Walker's collective bargaining bill, even interviewing those gathering petitions to recall the governor. "All of this before she decided to run," says Balisle. "She didn't want to go on a fool's errand. She made sure she could do the numbers before she put friends and family through this."

Balisle also posted a "say it isn't so" message on Terese Berceau's Facebook page when she heard the Democratic state lawmaker from Madison might be backing Barrett...

Berceau confirms she is backing Barrett.... Berceau says Barrett has the best chance of appealing to independents.

"Independent women are the gold standard," she says. "We know we need to reach them and know they're critical...."

"State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton), who is also endorsing Barrett, says in his travels around the state he has not found much excitement for a Falk run. Voters are also not that worked up about Barrett, he adds."

It's gonna be like coming down on Christmas day and nothing is under the tree. All that excitment...and nothing in the end.

""Unions, to be honest, did not do Kathleen any favors," says Erpenbach. "This is not just about collective bargaining. It's about cuts to education, cuts to technical schools, the assault on women's health." Falk is opposed to all of that, Erpenbach says, but Walker will be able to paint her as a single-issue candidate."

This is bullshit. It's all the greed of the public union employees, and leftie's radical agendas.

I'm afraid when it comes to the behavior of women, guys like Heartiste and the rest of the "game" guys are about right. Sadly.

Women spend their lives chasing after Alpha males while making use of some drab dweebish beta male in the mean time. And the vast majority of us are beta males.

Ironically, as women have been empowered, they have fallen back on rather crude desires when it comes to mate selection, especially among the proles (working class people). Thus the explosion of young women who are now "single moms", who have fathered the fairly low IQ children of players. Since half of personality and IQ are genetic, this doesn't bode well for the future.

Also heard on Twitter that there are 28 people in Wisconsin named Scott Walker. I wonder if any will step up and primary Scott Walker? That might create some confusion on the ballot I bet. And there are no limits to WIGOP shenanigans, it's not like they could really legitimately complain.

If any of you "beta" conservative males think that this will drive a wedge inbetween Democrats, you are wrong. It will all be ironed out by election day, no worries.

Anti women legislation is another reason to recall Walker and his "minions". Democrats won't ever vote for Walker, independent women have seen what the Wisconsin Legislature and Senate have been up to.

Equal Pay for women was a topic on Morning Joe yesterday. Mika Brezinski is moderating a woman's conference for Prez Obama. Mika is dumb as a rock but I still wonder why she works for a show that has almost all men pundits and regulars. Does she not see the humor in her whining about equal pay when her own show uses very very few women guests?

If any of you "beta" conservative males think that this will drive a wedge inbetween Democrats, you are wrong. It will all be ironed out by election day, no worries.

Yeah, I think prole women, low IQ women, "single moms", and some professional women (are we calling teachers "professional"?) will go more for the nonjudgmental and flashy Obama, over the boring 50s good-family man Romney.

Obama is like a guy you hook up with while stoned at a party. Boring old Romney is like a guy that explains you need to live within a budget. I think we know who will win the women's vote.

This is whining, and I find it very distasteful, especially in the staff of a woman who wants to be governor. Falk is acting like she expects Barrett to give her flowers. They are political opponents for cripe's sake! No one is "dissing" her as a woman. But all this whining can give her a bad rep as a female politician.

Maybe they're both menopausal.

I really hate saying that about a woman, especially a woman running for office, but this is just silly.

>>If enough people cross over to vote for Falk, Walker will lose his primary! :)<<

Are you really this stupid? There are five candidates on the Democrat side running for governor, and no one opposing Walker on the Republican side. How exactly is he going to lose when the general election must consist of at least one Democrat and one Republican candidate?

What's really sad is that this is so indicative of the Democrats' addiction to divisive and tribalist victim-politics. What does the primary have to do with the fact that it's a man versus a woman? Do you think the WI Democratic party brass decided "Oh noes, we can't have a *woman* run"? How about the simpler explanation: Barrett is their guy. It's just an insider's game. But shit, they really can't help but turn to the "Oh, we're poor victimized women" trope.

AllieOop:If any of you "beta" conservative males think that this will drive a wedge inbetween Democrats, you are wrong. It will all be ironed out by election day, no worries.

Well duh. It'll get ironed out because it's not serious. At all. It's just another campaign tool. Once the dust settles they'll shake hands and stand strong for the party, confirming that these attacks are cheap and unserious. Doesn't it piss you off that sexism has just become another devalued and meaningless charge?

BTW, nice jab with the beta remark. Do you ever look in the mirror and ask "How can I be for women's rights and gender equality when my first instinct in a political debate is to sexually degrade my opponents?" No?

If he's really running that's good since it guarantees a longer campaign period.

How do you figure? They ain't gonna push the dates further out if both parties, instead of only one, has a primary.

Anywhos...like I said the other day, while I know the odds are loooong it would indeed be funny if so many people on either side crossed over that the general election ended up being Falk vs. Kohl-Riggs.

I still wanna know what happened to the plan to write-in Walker in the Dem-primary. Did they finally figure out there is no way that would work out for 'em?

If any upstate Wisconsin voters even get a whiff of Democratic candidates taking orders from Chicago, that candidate is history. That's just the way things are. Better double-down on cover-up. But that should make any real journalist's job more exciting! WIn-WIn!

Because the GAB states that the recall is on May 8. If there are multiple challengers for any office then it becomes a primary on that date and the recall election is shifted to June 5

Yup, I knows that.

But there is already a primary for the Dems, so I don't understand why also having a primary for the Repubs will make for an even longer campaign period.

Ain't arguing with ya about it, rather just seeing if you know something I don't or if you're just confused. (NTTAWWT, of course...this is a kinda confusing situation, and even more confusing with all the fakes running in the primaries)

Remember lefties - if you get rid of Walker what will you gain? You think that getting a Democrat back in will turn back economic realities? Just look at what's happening in other blue states - Democrat governors and mayors are pounding the SHIT out of the public sector unions, cutting programs and NOT raising taxes. So be VERY careful what you wish for.

The idea that repealing the Equal Pay Enforcement Act has anything to do with women's rights is absurd. It's based on the false idea that the Equal Pay Enforcement Act is Wisconsin's version of the federal Equal Pay Act. It is not. This is just a sham.

Just look at what's happening in other blue states - Democrat governors and mayors are pounding the SHIT out of the public sector unions, cutting programs and NOT raising taxes.

Wisconsin Dems should take a page from more recent political history like Sen. William Proxmire and not from old Fighting Blob. This is not 1912. Fight bloated waste at home and nationwide. Stop proposing unchecked expansion of Government services and entitlements. Deleverage the DNR (Damn Near Russia) or whoever is blocking the use of natural resources. Stop harping about social issues and talk about economic opportunities. And STOP listening to that D.C. hero and his minions in Chicago.

Thanks X, good listen. Now, the interesting thing is that it's not just black community affected now. Charles Murray is pointing out the bottom 1/3 (or something like that) of White folks are now falling in the same boat. I'm seeing more young White kids covered in tats, piercings and body modifications, who by age 22 have a couple kids by different dads.

I assume they will be good life long Democrats (at least the women) since they don't want to be "judged" and they need a Federal Daddy for their kids.

Deleverage the DNR (Damn Near Russia) or whoever is blocking the use of natural resources.

As usual, you guys have it all wrong. Wetlands, water recreation, bird watching, fishing, hunting, etc generates billions in revenue and supports tens of thousands of jobs in Wisconsin. A responsible steward would promote our natural resources, not destroy it by selling it off to out of state interests.

A responsible steward would promote our natural resources, not destroy it by selling it off to out of state interests.

Conservation, not preservation.

Do you savvy the nuanced prefixed difference? Democrats believe in preservation;* conservatives believe in conservation._________________The French word for condom is préservatif which explains a lot--progressives being of the Jacobin persuasion.

Given the debate last night in Milwaukee by the Dem candidates, who did not attack each other, but Walker, I would say maybe Althouse needs to get out of Madison more often. And Arthur Louis Kohl-Riggs has announced that he will run on the Republican ticket against Walker-- so thing should get interesting.

It's interesting that the fight between Falk and Barrett has quickly been framed in terms of identity- politics -- the male candidate is deemed to be dissing the female candidate just by running for the same nomination. When the Repubs get into these fights, the battle is typically framed by ideology -- who's the more conservative (or moderate, depending on the state) or ( perhaps) the more electable candidate.

Garage: Liberals believe in freedom. I know you would like to think that. Maybe a long time ago.

Bulldozing is progress too. Tearing shit down for the hell of it is progress. Progress is just change. These days, I associate "progressives" with bulldozing for the hell of it. Because they don't "like" established decorum.

A sound defensive move by Wisconsin Republicans would be to run someone in the Democratic primary. That way if significant numbers of Democrats vote for Arthur Louis Kohl-Riggs in the Republican primary, Republicans can nominate their nominee in the Democrats primary.

The thing is that it will be nigh impossible for the Democrats to win in the Republican primary since the only other candidate there will be Walker, meanwhile the Republican in the Democrat's primary might win in a crowded field.

Finally someone besides Republicans warring on women. It seemed like such a nasty one sided fight. We expect old pasty faced reactionaries to be anti woman but low and behold even the Dems have a few. Go figure

I remember reading that and thinking WTF?! I grew up in Milwaukee, never heard of such a thing. In my experience growing up in Milwaukee, I'm surprised you didn't get met by a man with a baseball bat, entering a strangers home without invitation.

The thread in which Edutcher said some of his fellow Americans were his enemy and the enemy of the US

If he meant Bill Ayers and Ayers' apologists, I'm inclined to agree. Words like treason have real meaning--they're not just labels.

Ayers' family's money kept him from prosecution--happens all the time. I think that's established fact. It irks me that he has attained such a measure of respectability without any contrition whatsoever. I hope he has/had zero influence on Obama.

A long time ago a friend of mine was going to crash at my place after the bars. He missed it by one house, and crashed on my neighbors couch. My neighbor woke him up in the morning and cooked breakfast for the two of them. That was Rhinelander though, about 20 yrs ago.

One of the new laws recently signed makes it illegal for insurance policies that will be sold through the upcoming insurance exchanges (assuming ObamaCare is still around in 2014) from offering any coverage for any abortion procedures unless it is medically needed or the pregnancy is a result of incest/rape.

From what I understand those policies will sold by private companies, no? If so, I'm curious to know if the State has placed any sort of restrictions on other medical procedures that an insurance company in the exchange can offer coverage for, or is it just this one.

Another one of the new laws requires a woman who is getting an abortion to have a private appointment (with no other family members or friends present) with the doctor before the procedure is allowed to take place. Are there any other medical procedures where the State also requires that sort of "alone time" with the doc?

I tried googlin' up some answers to those questions, but it is a rough searchfield to narrow down...

There are no other medical procedures in which a woman is forced to meet with her doctor without a family member or friend present, to be grilled by the doctor who must ask a list of questions dictated by, wait for it...... The Government!

Remember the outcry, "Obamacare" will get inbetween you and your doctor!

Senate Bill 306, now known as 2011 Wisconsin Act 217, requires women seeking abortions to undergo a physical exam. The measure also would require doctors to speak privately with women at least 24 hours before performing an abortion to determine whether they had been coerced into having the procedure done. Doctors could face a felony for ignoring the new rules.

The measure also prevents women from receiving drugs that induce abortions unless a doctor provided a physical exam and was in the same room when the woman received the drugs.

The law requires schools that offer a human development and growth curriculum to emphasize abstinence as the preferred method of birth control and emphasize the role and “socioeconomic benefits” of marriage....

Team Obama asked Romney to take a position on Walker signing a bill repealing the WI Equal Pay Act behind closed doors today. Over to you Mitt! And why should he? Is he expected to know every bill passed in every state?

Considering as he had a bromance with Walker while Mitt was here, it might be something he would want to know, what with Ann taking the stage and all.

Wisconsin is a significant electoral state for Mittens. I predict he'll distance himself from the situation with Walker now and hope it doesn't rub off.

The measure also would require doctors to speak privately with women at least 24 hours before performing an abortion to determine whether they had been coerced into having the procedure done. Doctors could face a felony for ignoring the new rules.

The measure also prevents women from receiving drugs that induce abortions unless a doctor provided a physical exam and was in the same room when the woman received the drugs.

The law requires schools that offer a human development and growth curriculum to emphasize abstinence as the preferred method of birth control and emphasize the role and “socioeconomic benefits” of marriage....

Actually, the act expanded the ability of literally everybody to get compensatory damages in state court for every kind employment discrimination—not just pay discrimination. So if this is war, it is not a war on women; it is a war on everybody.

In fact, Bart Torvik, in the context of all those bills Walker signed Thursday that included additional burdens put on women seeking abortions, one might argue that as evidence of invidious discrimination in the repeal of the Equal Pay Enforcement Act.

Just because you may not like it does not mean there is no rational basis for the argument.

There are no other medical procedures in which a woman is forced to meet with her doctor without a family member or friend present, to be grilled by the doctor who must ask a list of questions dictated by, wait for it...... The Government!

Do others require the termination of another living thing? You're aware that a lot of states require spousal consent before a man can get a vasectomy, right?

Considering as he had a bromance with Walker while Mitt was here, it might be something he would want to know, what with Ann taking the stage and all.

So, it's off-limits to mention Obama and his friendships for years. Unfair to mention his self-professed closeness to criminal Jon Corzine.

But anybody Mitt appears at a campaign stop with --- now HE has to explain everything?

If you think you are a feminist, you are a fake one, really a lefty or a Democrat, and your partisan politics comes first.

Professor, that is a reason why a lot of younger conservatives discount feminist groups now.

When we were in college, we saw feminist groups TOTALLY change basically all of their views to defend Clinton --- which showed that as annoying as they may have been, they didn't have an actually consistent belief system.

It will harm any group and their ability to be taken seriously. When I saw "sexual harassment" go from "disqualifying thing for a SCOTUS justice" to "no big deal for a President", I lost my ability to take groups like NOW seriously ever again.

Ann, that comment was not said by a woman, it was said by Chickenlittle, a male at 2:05 PM. I don't believe he was intimating any act of sexual violence, but I should not speak for him, perhaps he can come back and clarify his meaning.

It's indisputable, as studies have shown, that a great many women who have had an abortion come to regret or feel badly about it afterwards, so providing for a bit of reflection and consultation ahead of time concerning just what it is they're about is not a “war on women” but rather is pro-women.

Said, about Rebecca Kleefisch, by a female commenter who probably regards herself as a feminist. That image is one of sexual violence. You compare an adult woman to a juvenile animal. You refer to slicing into her dead (animal) body, prepping her for cooking. But the woman you revile is conservative, so maybe you didn't notice. If you think you are a feminist, you are a fake one, really a lefty or a Democrat, and your partisan politics comes first. Go stand over there will Bill Clinton.

Oh for goodness sake, Althouse, "how do you filet a filly" was A PLAY ON WORDS on CHICKENLITTLE'S comment. Which you'd have recognized were you not humorless.

And get off the "feminist" rant already. To use a METAPHOR, you jump both sides of the fence.

"It's indisputable, as studies have shown, that a great many women who have had an abortion come to regret or feel badly about it afterwards, so providing for a bit of reflection and consultation ahead of time concerning just what it is they're about is not a 'war on women' but rather is pro-women."

I can't believe you actually believe what you said--"but rather is pro-woman."

I believe you thought you came up with a clever argument that you could twist.

I can't believe you actually believe what you said — “but rather is pro-woman.”

I do believe it — and your inability to believe that I believe it merely reveals either your utter lack of imagination or raw partisanship. Moreover, Roe herself these days agrees with me and not with you.

And it's so (not) harmful to women having to briefly consult with her physician! You should listen to yourself sometime.

Democrats have nothing, nothing to run on, so they invent a "war on women".

And some women are gullible enough to buy into it.

Seriously, are you so gullible that you'll focus on someone paying your $10 monthly hormonal contraceptive bill rather than the looming collapse of the American economy and Governor Walker's heroic effort to stabilize Wisconsin's economy?

If there can be a waiting period and background check in order to exercise my clear 2nd Amendment right to bear arms, it is not unreasonable for women be required to have an exam before exercising their penumbra emanated right to an abortion. Both restrictions are invasive and inconvenient. Both could potentially cause harm. I thinks it's reasonable in both cases.

Regardless protestations, the general perception out there is that the GOP is conducting a "war on women". Just look at the polls. Now Obama has 50% approval rating on Gallup for no reason other then GOP stupidity.